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Who Is the Apple Watch Watching Your Health for?
As recreational health trackers such as the Apple Watch and Fitbit become more popular, ethical questions regarding medical confidentiality, privacy, and the importance of accountable diagnoses arise
Earlier this month, Apple, in collaboration with Stanford University, released the Apple Heart Study. Fully funded by Apple, the eight-month study compiled data from over 400,000 participants (or Apple Watch users) including at least 20,000 individuals 65 and older. The researchers found that nearly 2,000 of those participants received irregular heartbeat notifications from their watches. Follow-up examinations, with a subset of those patients and employing more standard medical technology, showed that patients were actually experiencing atrial fibrillation in only 84% of the situations that led to notifications.
Apple’s efforts to enter the health field are indicative of a greater trend to use Internet of Things (IoT) devices in the service of medicine: the medical device Internet of Things (mdIoT). This emerging area of technological tools spans the gamut of medical devices from professional and hospital-grade to recreational. The types of things included in mdIoT encompass smartphone apps, stand-alone devices, and smartphone add-ons.
The evolution of the mdIoT field is an outgrowth of a lifehacking ethos that seeks to catalog, track and journal as many aspects of one’s personal life as possible. Over the past couple of years, continually advancing technology has allowed for the expansion of this niche lifestyle into the general culture by way of hip technologies that monitor a mounting number of personal metrics.
Apple is not the only non-medical company expanding into this space. Fitbit, a manufacturer of devices known primarily for keeping a daily step count, collected over 150 billion hours of heart rate data from millions of its customers to create the largest ever heart rate clinical study.
Effectively, Apple, Fitbit, and similar companies are helping to convert the formerly anecdotal information of individual fringe hackers—known as N of 1 trials—into an informative dataset representing a statistically robust broad swath of society, simply by collecting and collating all the data from all their users.
The benefits of these efforts seem clear. They both allow for enormous, relatively cheap, studies to advance medical knowledge for all mankind while simultaneously allowing every individual to keep track of their vitals in an easy, affordable, and, importantly, unobtrusive fashion. Concerns associated with the growing trend to track our steps, our heart rate, and even our genomes are also clear and ought not to be discounted.
While most of these devices are marketed as recreational in design and purpose, perhaps to avoid government oversight, many also purport to give actionable medical data. However, the not-so-trivial false positive rate of the Apple Watch indicated above can become a burden on the health system. Of those who received a notification of an abnormal heart rhythm by the Apple Watch, more than half sought medical attention, many seemingly without necessity, given the disclosed number of misdiagnoses.
Providing less-than clinical-standard data to people, either by way of a watch, an app, or any other device outside of the care of a medical professional can result in at least one of two classical situations: the walking sick—those who incorrectly believe, based on the data provided by their devices and apps, that all is well, when all is not well—and, the worried well—those hypochondriacs that seek out unnecessary medical attention, on an incorrect belief that all is not well.
Much of these concerns have to do with the lack of standardization amongst these devices, which can range from earbuds to toilet seats. This can be a problem because the algorithms used in one device are not necessarily like the algorithms used by another, nor are the sensors feeding those algorithms necessarily calibrated the same way as sensors feeding similar or different algorithms in other devices are. This lack of standardization could result in potentially vastly different readings, depending on what device you are using, limiting the usefulness of these massive clinical trials.
This dearth of standards also extends into the area of cyber protection where different devices might use different encryption schemes, making it hard to do large-scale multi-device studies. Even more problematic is the fact that many devices eschew battery-hogging encryption altogether, allowing highly personal data to be easily lifted off the devices by malicious actors.
This lack of security is not only an issue with recreational devices. Even hospital-grade mdIoT devices can be hacked, albeit with much more dire repercussions as these weak links could open up entire hospitals to malware and ransomware. Just last week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued a warning to hundreds of thousands of individuals with implanted defibrillators that they could be open to hacking.
And even when the data on the device is safely protected, it is often unclear who owns this obviously valuable information. Did the wearer of the device knowingly consent to allow large corporations to extract, analyze and then sell their personal data?
This lack of oversight by competent government bodies is not limited to devices like Fitbits and Apple Watches. The app stores are inundated with ever-expanding catalogs of software that purport, many without sufficient justification, to provide actionable medical information from the data that they acquire from you the user. The rapid spread and easy availability of these apps raise concerns too numerous to list here.
The Apple study notably did not include the fourth generation Apple Watch, now with electrocardiogram (EKG) capability. EKGs are currently recommended only for those individuals with a high risk of heart disease or with possible symptoms of heart disease, not for every consumer that can afford to drop $400 on the latest tech. And with the efficacy of these devices not yet proven, it could be argued that we have already gone too far in putting complicated professional medical technology and data into our unprofessional hands.
Dov Greenbaum, JD PhD, is the director of the Zvi Meitar Institute for Legal Implications of Emerging Technologies and Professor at the Harry Radzyner Law School, both at the Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Herzliya.


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Aug. 2, 2014—Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigs, are getting popular. And they might seem like a good way to kick a smoking habit, since they provide nicotine without the smoke. But health experts aren’t convinced just yet.
In a position statement, the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (which includes the American College of Chest Physicians and the American Thoracic Society) cautioned that more studies are needed before experts can feel certain that e-cigarettes can safely help people break free of nicotine—or whether they might even lead to more problems.
A virtual smoke
E-cigarettes are battery-powered devices that often resemble real cigarettes, but they might also look like pens or other common objects. Typically, nicotine, flavoring and other liquid chemicals are heated and inhaled as a vapor. Vaping, as this is called, is gaining in popularity, particularly among young people. And that’s raising some concerns.
On the one hand, it’s true that e-cigarettes produce less tar and cancer-causing chemicals than cigarettes do. That means they could help to cut the risks of tobacco-related diseases a smoker might face. However, the health risks of e-cigs haven’t been adequately studied, researchers said.
For example, when it comes to the chemicals in e-cigarettes, the details aren’t fully known, the statement noted. And the nicotine in e-cigs is not without risks either. It’s highly addictive, and it’s been linked to serious health problems in young children, pregnant women, nursing mothers and other people with health issues, researchers said. Without close regulation and monitoring of e-cigs, the amount of nicotine in them could vary, the researchers said.
In addition, studies haven’t found that e-cigarettes are better than nicotine-replacement products or a placebo at helping smokers quit, according to the statement. In fact, there’s some concern that e-cigs may actually prompt some people to get hooked on nicotine and could reduce the number of people who quit smoking. The devices might also make smoking appear socially acceptable, researchers said.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has already proposed regulations that, among other things, would require makers of e-cigarettes to fully describe their ingredients. But as a precaution, the statement suggested, policy makers should restrict or ban e-cigs—at least until further studies are complete—or regulate them like medicines or tobacco. Read the full statement here.
|The take-home message|
|While it can be tempting to lean on e-cigarettes to help you quit smoking, it’s clear that at least some experts don’t feel that the devices are safe. So if you smoke and want to quit, ask your doctor about other stop-smoking options, such as nicotine gums or patches. They can help ease withdrawal symptoms so that it’s a little easier to quit.
Being prepared can also help you handle the smoking urge. For example, are after-dinner cravings especially difficult? Stock up on gum or healthy snacks to use instead of lighting up.
And think about—even jot down—your reasons for quitting. For instance, maybe you want to reduce your risk of cancer or protect your family from secondhand smoke.
Whatever your reasons for quitting, do your best to hang in there. Millions of people have quit smoking—and you can too.
Find out more about the benefits of quitting smoking here.

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Editorial: Let California’s plastic bag ban stand
Some people just don’t know when to stop fighting. Immediately after Gov. Jerry Brown signed the nation’s first statewide ban on disposable plastic bags, the plastics industry vowed to overturn it. Since then, out-of-state bag makers have contributed $2.5 million to help collect 504,000 signatures by the end of the year to put a referendum on the November 2016 ballot reversing the ban, despite polls showing that it has widespread support.
Under the landmark environmental law, grocery stores and pharmacies are supposed to phase out single-use plastic bags by July 1; convenience and liquor stores have an extra year to comply. But if the referendum qualifies for the ballot, the law is put on hold until after the 2016 election. That means another year and a half of plastic bags littering parks, rivers and beaches, and more plastic debris polluting the ocean and killing marine life. There’s no need for delay — Californians have already debated the issue ad nauseam and decided to ban the bag. Voters should just say no when asked to sign the petition for the referendum.
Of course, the plastics industry is going to pour money into the referendum, and its advocacy group, the American Progressive Bag Alliance, will throw up every imaginable argument for voters to sign on. Bag manufacturers profit if the ban is delayed. But don’t buy the industry spin! This law was not a backroom deal, as opponents claim, but the result of years of legislative hearings and more than a dozen failed attempts to restrict the use of the bags statewide (thanks to industry lobbying). It’s not a job killer — the legislation included $2 million to help local manufacturers begin to make thicker, multiuse plastic bags. And it’s not an onerous tax on consumers; shoppers can avoid the 10-cent fee on paper or reusable plastic bags simply by bringing their own.
A bag ban is hardly revolutionary anymore. California has more than 125 local ordinances barring or charging for disposable bags — and more will be passed if the state law is delayed. The city of Los Angeles has eliminated single-use plastic bags, and there has been little blowback. In a recent USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll, 60% of respondents supported the new law.
California may be the leader, but the tide is turning against plastic bags elsewhere too; cities or legislatures in 25 states have enacted or discussed plastic bag bans and fees. Why? Because more and more jurisdictions have realized that giving up disposable plastic bags is a small sacrifice that delivers real environmental benefits. If the plastics industry was really as progressive as the name of its alliance suggests, manufacturers would be investing their money in more sustainable products. But instead they keep fighting the same fight. Californians need to send a strong message: The bag ban should stand.
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Thomas Cook Airlines has announced the addition of 10 flights a week for Easter 2019 from Bristol airport.
With the introduction of 10 additional flights a week from April 3, 2019 until the end of the month, Thomas Cook Airlines has added over 12,000 seats to destinations including Turkey, Tunisia, Egypt, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Majorca. Tickets are now on sale via www.thomascookairlines.com.
Henry Sunley, Commercial Director at Thomas Cook Airlines, said: ‘This is a bigger Easter programme from Bristol than ever before, with our season traditionally ramping up from May 1. It’s great to be able to reward our customers who fly with us from Bristol airport with even more choice and we look forward to adding more destinations from Bristol in the near future.’
Nigel Scott, Business Development Director, Bristol Airport added: ‘This is exciting news. The increased capacity for next year builds on the strong growth we are experiencing with Thomas Cook from Bristol Airport in 2018. It provides even more choice for passengers when using their local airport to travel to a variety of exciting holiday destinations. We look forward to working with Thomas Cook on future route opportunities.’
For summer 2019, Thomas Cook Airlines flight-only services from Bristol airport, one-way in economy, include services to Turkey from £168.99, Gran Canaria from £203.99, Hurghada, Egypt from £325.99 and Lanzarote from £203.99. With the new services, Thomas Cook Airlines now flies to 25 sun and beach destinations from Bristol, while increasing its number of seats on sale at Easter by 40 percent in 2018.
Thomas Cook is also offering a package holiday from Bristol airport, flying with Thomas Cook Airlines one-way in economy with seven nights in Turkey from £2,035 for a family of four, or £508 per person including discounted prices for children. Stay will be arranged at the five-star Sentido Perissia in Side on an all-inclusive basis, departing from Bristol on 8 April 2019. Tickets can be booked at www.thomascook.com, it said.


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McDonald’s Is Pulling Cheeseburgers From Their Happy Meal Menu
McDonald’s to take cheeseburgers and chocolate milk off the Happy Meal menu
If you’re like me and end up cruising through a McDonald’s drive-thru with your kids a few times a month, you’ll be glad to know the fast food giant is taking steps to make Happy Meals slightly less unhealthy. I can’t say they’re making them healthy with a straight face, because let’s be real, but something is definitely better than nothing when it comes to helping our kids make better choices.
As of June 2018, McDonald’s will be removing both cheeseburgers and chocolate milk from their Happy Meal menu options. They’re also reducing the french fry serving from the six-piece chicken McNugget Mighty meal for bigger kids by half. According to Reuters, the changes are in an effort to make all Happy Meals 600 calories or less with 10 percent of calories coming from saturated fat, 650 mg of sodium, and 10 percent of calories from added sugar.
The cheeseburger and chocolate milk will still be available for people to order as part of a Happy Meal, but they won’t be listed as menu options for Happy Meals in the U.S. as of this June. That means customers can still have these items put in Happy Meals by request, but the hope is to nudge people into making slightly healthier choices by making the menu items less visible.
This is good, right? It’s progress. It’s better than nothing. On those busy nights full of music lessons and sports practices, a zoom through the McDonald’s drive-thru is wildly convenient and usually, something every kid will eat. Until there are drive-thrus offering steamed veggies and sliced up grilled chicken, healthier Happy Meals will be nice to have.
Some took to Twitter saying this is just a silly PR move, that in order to keep kids healthier, we need to just scrap Happy Meals altogether.
But let’s think about the changes in fast food, even since we were kids. I used to have orange soda with mine, which you can still order now instead of the milk or juice currently offered, but soda isn’t listed as a Happy Meal menu option anymore. Which means fewer parents include it when grabbing their kids’ fast food dinners. According to WISHTV, sales of soda ordered with Happy Meals have fallen 14 percent since soft drinks were removed from the menu four years ago. Some kids skipping soda for dinner is better than no kids.
We also used to get that cute little bag of shortbread cookies in the shapes of McDonald’s characters. Now, our kids get apple slices. Things are getting better, and that’s nothing to shrug off. As long as fast food exists, parents will be buying it for their kids. Having healthier choices and one less reason for our kids to ask for high calorie and high sodium items for dinner is never a bad thing.
This article was originally published on


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I’m feeling optimistic!
The accelerating distribution of several highly effective Covid-19 vaccines has given us all a reason to breathe a collective sigh of relief. A little over a year after businesses first shut down and governments implemented lockdowns and travel restrictions due to the pandemic, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel and it isn’t an oncoming train. Americans are feeling increasingly hopeful that life will soon regain some semblance of pre-pandemic normalcy and the prospects for strong business growth are better than they have been over the past 12 months.
What this means for business owners and executives, is that now is the time to boost marketing in advance of their business re-opening, and to explore ways to be proactive with customer engagement. In this article, I’ll discuss the upside that direct mail will continue to offer post-pandemic and explore ways that businesses can use it to boost re-opening efforts to drive long-term growth.
1. Reliably reach customers nation-wide with direct mail
Over the past year, the pandemic has highlighted the major challenges that many Americans face when it comes to accessing reliable high-speed internet. While the FCC reports that just a little over 21 million Americans lack a speedy internet connection, BroadbandNow Research estimates it to be closer to 42 million—and that’s nothing compared to conclusions that Microsoft drew from their data in 2019, which suggested the number might top out at 162 million Americans!
Think about that: up to nearly 50% of America’s 328 million residents might not have access to fast, reliable internet! For businesses relying heavily or exclusively on digital marketing tactics, this creates the potential for untold missed sales opportunities. And at a time when the digital environment is already saturated, the implication of not being able to reliably get your marketing message in front of a large portion of the population is, frankly, profound. Put it this way, how would your business growth be positively affected by reaching even 10% more potential customers?
Anyone who doubts the importance and utility of physical mail or tactile marketing likely doesn’t understand its strengths and the incredible marketing upside it can bring. In reality, a mailed piece can serve as a flexible, cost-effective tool in almost any multi- or omni-channel marketing strategy.
2. Get back on customer radar with near-100% open rates of direct mail
In 2020, virtually every business took a hit as uncertainty was high, consumer spending was down, and lockdowns increasingly pushed customers online. However, while everyone was impacted, businesses that rely on in-person customer engagement “touches” were especially impacted by social distancing measures aimed at curbing the pandemic. Now, even as more Americans become vaccinated and we move toward the recovery phase of the pandemic, the same especially hard-hit businesses face another challenge: re-energizing customer engagement.
For businesses that were closed for part or all of the past year, it’s very possible that customers simply haven’t heard from them or thought about them - after all, out of sight, out of mind. Some may have even read the worst into this and assumed that no communication meant the business had folded. This makes it even more important to pick a medium for outreach that you know customers will respond to positively. That’s one area in which direct mail shines.
In my previous post, 4 Reasons to Embrace Direct Mail in 2021, I reflected on the fact that surveys show that Americans are more likely to spend time reviewing the contents of a piece of physical mail than they are with email marketing, in part due to the overwhelming amount of email the average American receives weekly as well as an aforementioned affinity for physical mail. If you’re working with limited time or resources, rather than competing for customers’ attention in over-saturated digital spaces, consider investing in implementing a direct mail marketing strategy instead.
Whether you’re announcing plans to re-open, making a limited-time offer, or sharing an invitation for an in-person event, a mail piece offers strong ROI and a high degree of confidence that your customer will receive your message. When the recipient opens the envelope and the contents delight, impress, and surprise them, your message is more “sticky” and so it stays top-of-mind.
3. Direct mail boosts customer trust and brand awareness
When the pandemic began, it rocked markets as consumer anxiety and fear of long-term economic fallout ran rampant. While full recovery won’t be immediate, ongoing economic stimulus and increased vaccinations are already spurring renewed growth as Americans slowly return to something that looks much more like pre-pandemic life. However, even once vaccinated, consumers will likely feel some anxiety around returning to in-person events, meetings, and services, which makes it essential for businesses to do everything they can to encourage and welcome back customers.
Over the past year, consumer behavior has changed drastically and it will take time to readjust. Even though we have great reason to feel hopeful, it would be unwise to think customers will come flocking back unprompted. Instead, it would be wise for businesses to devise strategies for raising brand awareness, encouraging customers, and making them feel comfortable to walk through their doors again. Inspiring customer trust just happens to be a strength of a card or letter received through the mail.
To learn more about how physical mail can be used to build consumer customer trust, visit 3 Ways to Use Direct Mail to Build Trust-Based Relationships.
Today’s technology options allow marketers to bring customers online without having to sacrifice the personal touch of a hand-signed letter.
4. Use direct mail to connect customers to digital spaces
In years past, it seemed that digital marketing advocates were constantly at war with proponents of more traditional media and vice versa. However, the truth is that there simply isn’t one perfect marketing strategy or tool that is universally, objectively best. Rather, digital tactics and more traditional tools like direct mail simply offer different advantages for different situations. The reality is that a great marketing strategy involves a multi-channel approach to meet your audience where they are and then lead them to your business and what it offers.
Marketers today are lucky to enjoy greater flexibility than ever before when it comes to effectively integrating marketing channels, and savvy marketers are implementing digital tools, such as Quick-Reference (QR) codes or Near-Field Communication (NFC) stickers that allow customers to scan or “bump” the physical product to seamlessly transition from a physical product or mailer to an online property without sacrificing the benefits of physical mail. Even something as simple as including a landing page URL in the mailer can easily enable the transition from offline to online.
Today’s technology options allow marketers to bring customers online without having to sacrifice the personal touch of a hand-signed letter. In other words, no more having to choose between taking customers digital and implementing elements of tactile marketing.
Plan now to maximize business re-opening results
While it might still seem early to be talking full-blown re-opening, now is the time to get ready. Considering the promising signs of life from the economy, the availability of multiple effective vaccines, and ongoing economic stimulus, every business should be doing everything they can to best position themselves to hit the ground running as pent-up demand swings into “buy mode”..
Are you looking for more ways to build relationships with customers to achieve sustained growth through the development of lasting trust-based B2B relationships? You have two choices: 1) keep “window shopping” on our site to learn more and get inspired, or 2) schedule a complimentary consultation today. Awesome 3D Cards can act as a force multiplier to help spread your message further and with better ROI than many alternatives.


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P3P Gets W3C Blessing
from the automating-privacy-protection dept
The W3C has apparently recommended the P3P privacy standard, which isn’t that big of a surprise. P3P is designed to “automate” the checking of privacy policies – so you know whether the various sites your visiting will protect your privacy to the level you want, without having to read through the long, boring, and confusing policies yourself. The article linked to here does a good job explaining some of the reasons why this might not be such a good thing – saying that the standard is too confusing, and not complete enough to really protect privacy. Instead, it could just make people think their privacy is protected.


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Uber Eats is revolutionizing the food delivery industry once again by introducing Waymo self-driving cars to deliver orders in the Phoenix metropolitan area. This new partnership between Uber and Waymo marks a significant milestone in the world of autonomous deliveries, expanding the reach of technology-driven solutions for consumers.
The collaboration between Uber and Waymo goes beyond just delivering food – it signifies a multiyear partnership aimed at innovating the way goods are transported and services are provided. With the successful launch of rides in Waymo’s self-driving vehicles in Phoenix last October, Uber is now integrating this cutting-edge technology into its food delivery service.
While Phoenix is the seventh site where Uber Eats offers autonomous deliveries, it is the first location where Waymo’s vehicles are utilized for this purpose. This strategic move aligns with Uber’s commitment to embracing new technologies and collaborating with leading companies in the autonomous vehicle space.
As the service areas expand to include Phoenix, Chandler, Mesa, and Tempe, more restaurants will become eligible for autonomous deliveries in the coming weeks. This growth reflects the potential for autonomous deliveries to become a key component of Uber Eats’ operations, providing customers with a seamless and innovative delivery experience.
By incorporating Waymo’s self-driving vehicles into its food delivery service, Uber is not only streamlining the delivery process but also promoting zero-emission trips. This environmentally friendly approach aligns with both companies’ missions to drive innovation and create more sustainable solutions for consumers and merchants.
While the current focus is on Phoenix, Uber has hinted at the possibility of expanding Waymo deliveries to more cities in the future. This potential expansion could further revolutionize the food delivery industry and pave the way for more innovative partnerships between technology companies and traditional service providers.
The integration of Waymo self-driving cars into Uber Eats’ delivery service represents a significant step forward in the evolution of food delivery. By leveraging autonomous technologies, Uber is not only enhancing its delivery capabilities but also setting the stage for a more sustainable and efficient future in the delivery industry. As autonomous deliveries become more widespread, consumers can expect a more seamless and innovative food delivery experience, driven by cutting-edge technologies and strategic partnerships.


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Two of China's mobile carriers have cut the cost of iPhone contracts as the country's largest carrier adds the phone to its lineup.
Following years of negotiations, Apple and China Mobile finally announced an agreement last month to. With a subscriber base of 760 million subscribers, China Mobile is, by far, the nation's biggest mobile carrier.
So it's no coincidence that rivals China Telecom and China Unicom are taking steps to retain their grip on the market.
China Telecom has trimmed the price of certain 24-month contracts for the 16GB iPhone 5S by as much as 24 percent, or 1,288 yuan ($212), the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday. The carrier also reduced some contract prices for the iPhone 5C by 24 percent. for the 16GB 5S, but by just 15 percent, as seen on the carrier's Web site.
China Mobile has yet to reveal prices for the iPhone and its long-term contracts. An unsubsidized iPhone 5S starts at 5,288 yuan ($873), while an off-contract 16GB 5C goes for 4,488 yuan ($741). Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster recently forecast that China Mobile could, around 2 percent of its total subscriber count.
Apple - USE TAG
reading•China Mobile rivals cut contract prices on iPhone
Nov 16•Black Friday 2018 smart home deals: Google Home Hub, Facebook Portal, Apple HomePod, Alexa gadgets and more
Nov 16•The best Black Friday 2018 deal on Apple AirPods: Get $19 to $39 off
Nov 16•Black Friday 2018 deals: Laptops, PCs, Chromebooks, tablets, monitors and more
Nov 16•Six websites that turn your used electronics into money


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AT&T (s t) today released quarterly results, highlighting a record 3.2 million iPhone activations, 13 percent higher earnings and the sixth consecutive period of growth in postpaid average revenue per subscriber (ARPU), now at $62.63. The second largest carrier in the U.S. also experienced a drop in postpaid churn, with 1.01 percent of customers defecting to other carriers in the second quarter. To say that the exclusive deal to carry Apple’s iPhone (s aapl) and iPad 3G in the U.S. is fueling AT&T, would be an understatement as the carrier’s financials continue their upward trends.
While AT&T set a new high for ARPU, it recently discontinued the $30 monthly unlimited data plans for new customers in favor of limited $15 and $25 plans, which could be a drag on ARPU in the future. Indeed on today’s earnings call, the company said adoption of tiered data plans “may reduce the growth rate in the next year.” A reduced growth rate doesn’t necessarily mean zero growth, however — it means slower growth. The company added on today’s call that ARPU wasn’t hurt as badly as it had expected. AT&T anticipated that most smartphone customers would migrate down to the $15 plan, but instead, more dropped to the $25 plan. And the majority of iPad 3G owners are opting for the higher plan as well.
From an end-user perspective though, the iPhone has also been the worst thing to happen to AT&T in some ways. Demand for smartphone data has routinely outstripped supply causing dropped calls and limited connectivity, especially early on as iPhone adoption ramped up in large metropolitan markets. But AT&T has shown improvements through infrastructure spending, reporting today 3G dropped calls are down 23 percent in Manhattan while 3G download speeds are up in New York City from six months ago. The company says that San Francisco customers — traditionally those facing the most network challenges with smartphones — will see improvements roughly 90 days after those in New York City. This is slower than AT&T had promised back in January.
The carrier also confirmed additional network upgrades to HSPA+ with the intent to begin doubling theoretical network speeds by the end of 2010, while also starting trials of a 4G LTE network within the next few months. Such upgrades will compete with T-Mobile’s current 21 Mbps HSPA+ upgrade, expected to be completed by year end, and Verizon’s (s vz) initial deployment of LTE in approximately two dozen markets this year.
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Unified Payments Interface (UPI), the flagship payments platform of National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), topped the Rs 5 trillion mark in value of transactions in March. It is nearing the 3 billion mark per month in transaction volume.
According to NPCI data for March, UPI recorded 2.73 billion transactions amounting to Rs 5.04 trillion, up 19 per cent in February both in terms of value and volume. In February, it had recorded around 2.3 billion transactions amounting to Rs 4.25 trillion.
If compared to the same period last year, UPI’s volume and value have grown by 120 per cent and 144 per cent respectively.
Launched in 2016, UPI crossed 1 billion transactions for the first time in October 2019. While it took UPI three years to reach a billion transactions in a month, the next billion came in just a year, indicating the increased adoption of UPI by consumers for peer-to-peer (P2P) payments and also for peer to merchant (P2M) transactions.
Digital payments, especially UPI, saw increased adoption in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. Notwithstanding the blip in initial months of the pandemic, where transaction volume and value dipped, the recovery was fast and NPCI's payment platforms namely UPI, Immediate Payment Service (IMPS), and others recorded fresh highs in the following months aided by aversion towards cash usage as well as card usage by the general public.
Experts said the surge in UPI transactions is because of increased consumer interest in making bill payments and recharging mobile phones online, and purchase of non-essential goods on e-commerce platforms. There has been a shift in the consumer mindset during the Covid-19 crisis and the subsequent lockdown, as they took to digital modes of payment even in sectors like education.
In its Payments and Settlement Systems in India booklet, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has said, UPI has grown to be the fastest payment system in the world with many jurisdictions eager to replicate the system. Given its popularity and acceptance, there are many innovations possible to extend UPI to desktop browsers, feature phones, offline payments as well as recurring payments.


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Pakistanâ€™s denim is on an upward trend, despite the larger textile industry being in trouble, as denim factory Artistic Denim Mills Ltd., in Karachi is operating as a one-stop shop turning cotton into jeans, is doubling production and has built a new factory in Pakistanâ€™s financial hub. Denim factory could hold the key to reviving Pakistanâ€™s ailing exports. Pakistan has a tremendous opportunity.
Chief Executive Officer Faisal Ahmed is bullish and supplies retailers such as Zara and Next Plc. He points to one key decision â€” unlike most industrialists, Artistic Denim started by making garments about 25 years ago instead of just shipping spun yarn or fabric. Now they have been able to get many orders that used to go to Turkey earlier.
The move shows a rare sign of promise in a stagnant industry that has been part of Pakistanâ€™s economic backbone for decades. Pakistan is among the top five growers globally and cultivated has been cultivated on these lands for at least 5,000 years. Typically Pakistan has been mostly converting cotton into thread and fabric that is shipped East to other Asian countries, which then manufacture the final garment.
With foreign reserves declining ahead of elections in July, Pakistanâ€™s government is under pressure to revive its exports and avoid going to the International Monetary Fund for what would be its 13th bailout since 1988. The textile industry is key as it accounts for more than half of all overseas shipments.
According to World Bank data, Pakistan has lost market share with exports growing 27 percent during 2005 to 2016, falling behind Bangladeshâ€™s 276 percent increase and 445 percent in Vietnam. India is the second-largest apparel exporter in South Asia after Bangladesh. Nonetheless, Pakistan still has the advantage of homegrown cotton that it can capitalize on, unlike Bangladesh and Vietnam.
Pakistan is targeting its first export jump this financial year after giving tax breaks to exporters, in a bid to reverse a three year slump with value added products like denim getting the biggest incentives, Mohammad Younus Dagha, secretary at the Commerce Ministry, said in an November interview.
Textile industrialists have continually lobbied the government for subsidies and incentives. Yet despite last yearâ€™s measures, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said in an interview this month that no further giveaways to the industry were likely before the elections.
According to Majyd Aziz, president of MHG Group of Companies in Karachi, about 95 percent of Pakistani exporters mentality is waiting for a customer rather than going out and finding them. In the global world, integration and economies of scale is needed.
Artistic Denim is one of them. It has chased premium brands in Los Angeles that pay more for smaller deliveries to keep changing designs rather than bulk orders.
The company said that this will help revenues reach as much as eight billion rupees ($72 million) in year ending June with new garment production capacity increasing sales. In Karachi, the firmâ€™s shares rose by the 5 percent limit at 11 a.m. with volumes at their highest in almost a year.
A report that is issued every week covers price statistics and objective analysis of the market trends on various textile value chains
A crisp report that is issued every month covers analysis of the price and market trends on various textile value chains
A weekly report covering market and price information on the entire chain of polyester along with online access to daily polyester chain prices.
One-time reports that are issued annually cover the demand and supply trends in individual products including polyester, nylon, acrylic, viscose, and cotton.
One-time reports that are issued annually cover the demand and supply trends in the individual country's natural and manmade fiber/filament industries.
Countries Served Worldwide


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Vijay Sharma, general manager (plant) of Dehradun-based Sarovaram Industries, says earlier, it was difficult to negotiate with large suppliers but Power2SME did away with the need to engage with multiple vendors; it acts as a single touch-point for various requirements for multiple locations.
Vikas Setia, chief executive of Delhi-based Dimple Plastics, says Power2SME helped the firm procure commodity polymers at extremely competitive prices, increasing the firm’s profit margins.
An association of 10-15 years with small and medium enterprises gave R Narayan the confidence to start Power2SME.com, owned by Gurgaon-based BEBB India.
The portal, which started operations in June 2012, buys directly from manufacturers and sells to SMEs. Power2SME has tied up with logistics providers which collect material in bulk from the manufacturer’s location, divide it into smaller lots and deliver to SMEs.
The venture works with established suppliers to assure product quality and pools the demands of a group of SMEs for multiple products.
For instance, if an SME needs 10 tonnes of steel, Power2SME places an order for, say, 50 tonnes and distributes the commodity among five-six SMEs. Narayan, chief executive of Power2SME, says this is important, as an SME’s major cost head is material sourcing.
Earlier, Narayan founded and headed Denave, a sales-enabling services firm.
He has also worked in Microsoft India, Oracle, Tat Unisys and ICI. The clientele comprises construction and manufacturing companies. It is present in Delhi and the National Capital Region, Maharashtra and Gujarat.
It plans to start operations in West Bengal this month and Tamil Nadu in September.
“There is enough opportunity in this space to bridge the gap between suppliers and SMEs,” says Narayan. He adds when he started the venture, he didn’t need to convince SMEs, as many in the segment already knew him.
It was, however, tough to convince suppliers -- SAIL, Haldia Petrochemicals, ArcelorMittal, Indian Oil Corporation, GAIL, AkzoNobel, etc. “We took two months to break through the suppliers.
They did not understand and relate to functioning online. They were even averse to supplying small volumes,” he recalls.
Securing funding wasn’t difficult.
“It took us only two months to get our first investors -- Inventus Capital and Kalaari Capital. The promoters had put in Rs 2 crore (Rs 20 million).
We had decided the company would either be on a small scale, turn profitable and fund itself, or scale up fast and be funded.
"The latter happened earlier,” he says.
Parag Dhol, managing director of Inventus Capital, says SMEs are operating on low margins and don’t have enough capital to spend on research and development.
The money they save after joining hands with Power2SME could be utilised to drive sales and marketing initiatives and, more importantly, in R&D, he says.
Initially, Power2SME raised
Rs 12 crore (Rs 120-million) in series-A funding from Inventus Capital and Kalaari Capital. Subsequently, Accel Partners pumped in Rs 3 crore. This was followed by the recent Rs 36-crore series-B funding in which all three investors participated. The company has raised a total of Rs 51 crore (Rs 510 million) so far.
The venture might need another round of funding by the middle of next financial year -- Rs 120-150 crore (Rs 1.2-1.5 billion).
The latest round of funding would be used to expand in south India, increase product portfolio, expand sourcing channels to include direct imports for SMEs and additional investment in technology and marketing. The company is also hiring more process experts and might launch mobile services soon.
“A buying club is a unique concept; we have not found another similar business model so far.
"Though there are similar concepts globally, they focus on services, not physical goods.
"The business model of Power2SME sustains the ability to grow, expand and cater to SMEs across sectors,” said Mahendran Balachandran, partner, Accel Partners.
Power2SME has about 14,000 registered SMEs users (with turnovers of Rs 5-250 crore).
Narayan says: “We did business of Rs 500,000 in the first month of operations (June 2012); in March 2013, we did business of Rs 5 crore (Rs 50 million).”
In 2012-13, the company’s gross revenue stood at Rs 19 crore (Rs 190 million).
“In the first four months of this financial year, we have already done business equal to what we did last financial year,” he adds.
For 2013-14, Narayan is eyeing revenues of Rs 125 crore (Rs 1.25 billion), as well as a green bottom line.
The company expects to break even by the first quarter of 2014-15.
Power2SME does not charge a commission from SMEs.
However, it earns a margin in the processing of buying from suppliers and selling to SMEs.
The margin is variable and could be as low as 0.5 per cent, says Narayan.
Rahul Khanna, managing director of Canaan Partners, says, “Power2SME is trying to level the playing field for SMEs which didn’t have the ability to secure bulk discounts from large suppliers.
"The company has seen some early success in a few verticals, but needs to operate at a much larger scale, given its pricing model, typically one to two per cent of the value of goods traded on the platform.”
He adds it would be good if the company shifts the working capital requirements of SMEs to a banking/non-banking financial company partner, as this would allow the business to gain scale more efficiently.
Narayan says his firm offers credit to SMEs selectively and a know-your-customer process is followed internally. The credit period ranges from seven-45 days.
“Selling to SMEs on credit is more prevalent in this sector. This is risky because many times you don’t know about the company.
Therefore, we are now tying up with financial institutions to ensure we carry out a proper credit appraisal of SMEs,” says Narayan. As of now, there aren’t many growth problems, he says.
Khanna says customer acquisition is a key challenge, as the company is looking to change the buying behaviour of SMEs that may have legacy relationships with suppliers.
It would also have to match the terms (delivery times, credit and batch sizes) SMEs are currently used to and this might involve significant working capital and complex logistics capabilities.
Rajesh Sawhney, founder of GSF Accelerator & Superangels, says he would like to see Power2SME applying technology intensively in its business model.
He adds operating leverage has to be expanded as the business expands.
If the expansion is people-dependent, it might erode operating leverage. For instance, Google offers services to SMEs through its SME partner programme, with the help of the software as a service model.
This means Google’s entire earnings go into raising the profit, as technology helps it cut people costs.
The first-mover advantage has helped the portal gain momentum.
However, new strategies would have to be devised, as entrants into the space could adopt multiple strategies such as under-cutting on prices and selective customer targeting.
Power2SME would have to be innovative and move at a rapid pace, says Balachandran.
Narayan, however, says the lack of competition is a bigger challenge.
“Lone crusaders take more time to get noticed and make money. For example, Amazon.com took eight years, while e-commerce players now are taking much less time, as they need to work much harder to be noticed as the best,” he says.
As of now, there is no other company in this space. Narayan feels the fact that he got the timing right and had experience was of immense help.
EXPERT TAKE: Navin Honagudi
Power2SME creates value in an extremely fragmented market, both on the supply and demand sides.
From a buyer’s perspective, small B2B purchases, typically in the manufacturing space, have two large pain points.
First, they are not able to get a good price that a large buyer would typically get because of volumes.
Second, there are a lot of intermediaries/distributors between the buyer and seller and it is tough for the small buyer to reach the seller directly.
Given these points, there have been inefficiencies in the system which Power2SME aims to address.
Unlike most sectors, the key buying decision for players in this space is based on quality/composition of the material.
For instance, given stainless steel is provided by the top five-six market players, Power2SME can aggregate demand from small buyers, typically called a ‘buying club’.
Then, Power2SME is able to approach large suppliers and provide better price to buyers by keeping a percentage of savings for themselves.
Power2SME is building scale through the use of technology and solving the problem by bringing buyers and sellers on a common platform.
However, the working capital requirement in this business could be high, considering buyers need a credit cycle; they would need a large sales force to seed the market and get demand-side SMEs to aggregate.
These concerns can be mitigated in two ways: First, over a period of time, the company could evolve into a marketplace or an exchange and, therefore, be capital-efficient.
Second, the company should get the backing of large financial institutions and keep the credit cycle money off its balance sheet.
Going forward, the company should clearly emerge as a top option for small SMEs to make purchase decisions.
investment director, Kae Capital


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Apple recently released iOS 16.1.1 update for iPhone and iPadOS 16.1.1 for its tablet lines.
According to the information of the update, iOS 16.1.1 will improve security features and bring a series of patches for iPhone. However, Apple has not yet announced specifically what issues are fixed on this update.
Previously, after updating the first iOS 16 versions, many users said that their devices often encountered Wi-Fi connection errors. In Vietnam, many users also reflect on errors when typing Vietnamese keyboard and this situation has not been completely fixed.
It is known that iOS 16.1.1 is just a small update to fix some bugs on the iPhone before Apple releases iOS 16.2 in the near future, expected in mid-December.
To update to iOS 16.1.1 version, users can access the General -> Software Update section.


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Amsterdam the Dropbox HQ in the BeneluxDropbox has opened an office for the Benelux, based in Amsterdam. It is the online storage company's fourth European office, after London, Dublin and Paris. The company claims more than 400 million users worldwide, including more than 150,000 paying business subscribers.
“Approximately 75% of Dropbox users are outside of the US, and a significant portion of that usage is by European businesses and consumers,” the company said in a blog post. “Benelux is an important part of the world for Dropbox, with some of the highest Dropbox penetration and engagement rates of any region,” the company said.
It added that about 49% of the internet population in these countries use Dropbox. Their next planned office will be in Hamburg, to serve the German-speaking countries.
Dutch business customers already in place
Dropbox business customers in the Netherlands already include Nuon, the digital agency TamTam, e-commerce service provider De Nieuwe Zaak, and interactive design company Unitid. Notable business customers in the rest of Europe include Channel 4, Condé Nast Britain, and Boots.


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FAIRBURY, NE — Authorities in southeast Nebraska say counterfeit money is showing up in the area.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office says counterfeit $20, $50, $100 bills have been spotted in Fairbury. Some of the bills say ‘Motion Picture Use’ on them and some have Chinese characters. A few separate reports have been filed with the Sheriff’s Office.
People are encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Office if they notice any counterfeit bills.


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The New York City Council greenlighted plans for that giant Ferris Wheel on Staten Island today, marking the final step in the public approval process. Called The New York Wheel and Empire Outlets, the project will bring the tallest "observation wheel" (they're not calling it a Ferris wheel) in the world to NYC. The 630 foot tall wheel will boast 36 capsules, each accommodating up to 40 passengers... so it sounds like The Wonder Wheel will still be the preferred attraction for burning a Ferris wheel jay. More details from the announcement:
The $260 million Empire Outlets project, being built adjacent to the St. George Ferry Terminal, will transform an underutilized municipal parking lot into a one-million-square-foot mixed-use retail hub that will bring newfound vibrancy and provide a tremendous boost to the local economy of Staten Island.
The development, designed by SHoP Architects, will include 340,000 square feet of prime retail space with up to 125 designer outlet retailers; a 200-room hotel; and a 40,000-square-foot food and beverage deck that will provide extraordinary views of the Manhattan skyline. In addition, BFC Partners will also build a 1,250-space structured parking garage below the retail and hotel components to accommodate commuters and tourists alike.
Construction will begin in 2014 with a grand opening scheduled for 2016. Construction for the Empire Outlets is expected to begin in the winter of 2014 and be completed in 2016. Currently, the tallest Ferris wheel in the world is the 541 foot tall Singapore Flyer, in Singapore.


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Microsoft is making big plans to ensure it gets a good share of the mobile phone market which in recent times has been, and is still being, dominated by Apple Inc. (the makers of iPhones) and, arguably, Samsung (the leading Android smartphone makers).
In the past, Microsoft has struggled to make significant impact in the mobile phone industry with its operating system (OS) running on various mobile devices. In 2008, Microsoft reorganized the Windows Mobile group and started work on a new mobile operating system. The product, Windows Phone, was to be released in 2009 but several delays prompted Microsoft to develop Windows Mobile 6.5 as an interim release. From then, Microsoft has gone on to partner with various mobile device vendors to launch its Windows OS on different devices such as Ericsson, HTC, Motorola and, most recently, Nokia.
On June 20, 2012, Microsoft unveiled Windows Phone 8, a new generation of the OS, due for release later in 2012. Windows Phone 8 will replace the previous Windows CE-based architecture but this seems not to be enough.
As it stands, in a bid to gain shares in the handheld device market, Microsoft is planning to build its own phones and not put its fate in the hands of other mobile device vendors. A source says the company is considering building mobile hardware as a back up, in the event that its current approach of providing software to handset makers fails. However, Microsoft has not yet made this news public knowledge.
In an effort to remain active in the mobile phone market and combat Apple’s iPhone 5 launch, Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer, last week announced the latest version of Windows Phone OS available on Nokia and HTC devices. Technology minds have started to wonder if this is a good move by Microsoft who is the world’s largest software maker.
In my opinion, Microsoft should stick to what they know best and concentrate more on improving and marketing the Windows phone OS as a competitive mobile phone OS. I say this because the mobile device market is currently very competitive with more companies struggling rather than succeeding in the hardware department.


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NEW YORK -- Services for Albert Moucadie, 65, a director of sourcing at the Kellwood Co., were held on Friday in Brooklyn.
Moucadie died Wednesday at his office here. The cause of death was heart failure, according to the office manager, Violet Agurs. Moucadie was director of sourcing for the lingerie and activewear division of Kellwood, which is based in St. Louis.
Moucadie is survived by his wife, Susan; a son, Andrew, a daughter, Suzanne Jordan, a sister and a grandson.
A Stella McCartney sketch of a custom dress made from protein-based silk in partnership with biotech lab Bolt Threads. The dress will be displayed at The Museum of Modern Art's upcoming design exhibition, "Items: Is Fashion Modern?"


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offers poor choice
for more healthful, lower cost food
who want to adopt healthy lifestyles often are at a disadvantage if they
live in rural areas where stores offering nutritious foods at a lower
cost are few and far between.
A study by the University of South Carolina's Arnold School of Public
Health examined the "nutritional environment" of a rural county to
determine the number and types of food stores, the availability of
stores and the price of a specific list of staple foods representing the
main food groups.
Researchers selected Orangeburg County in South
Carolina for the study. The rural county, which covers 1,106 square
miles, has a population of more than 91,500 people, of whom 63 percent
"Stores offering more healthful and lower-cost food
selections were greatly outnumbered by convenience stores, which offered
fewer healthy foods," said Dr. Angela Liese, an associate professor at
the Arnold School and the study's lead author.
"Very little is known about the nutritional
environment of rural areas, but 20 percent of Americans live in rural
areas," she said. "Our findings underscore the challenges that rural
residents encounter when they want to adopt healthier lifestyles."
The study is one of the first in the nation to look at
store choices in rural areas. The results are published in the November
issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.
Of the 77 stores located in Orangeburg County at the
time of the 2004 study, only 16 percent were supermarkets, and 10
percent were grocery stores. The remaining 74 percent of the stores were
Supermarkets were defined as stores with more than $2
million in sales annually and usually belonged to large chains; grocery
stores were defined as stores having less than $2 million in annual
sales and were generally smaller than supermarkets.
The county had seven stores per 100 square miles and
eight stores per 10,000 residents. Healthy foods were abundant in the
supermarkets and grocery stores if available, were more expensive at the
Among the findings:
- Only 4 percent of convenience stores carried
- Only 28 percent of any of the stores sold any of
the fruits or vegetables listed on the survey - apples, cucumbers,
oranges and tomatoes.
- Only 2 percent of convenience stores carried
low-fat or skim milk;
- Eggs were available in 29 percent of convenience
stores, and none of these stores carried ground beef (lean or high
fat), chicken drumsticks or chicken breasts;
- 98 percent of convenience stores had off-street
parking and only 36 percent offered handicap parking;
- Food stamps were accepted by all the
supermarkets, 63 percent of the grocery stores and 2 percent of the
The Arnold School study follows a report that the Los
Angeles City Council, concerned about the possible link between obesity
and fast-food restaurants, was considering a moratorium on the building
of new restaurants in south Los Angeles while city planners looked at
ways of attracting businesses with a greater variety of food choices.
"We clearly are seeing a move in this country to
better understand how availability and costs of certain foods affect
people's choices," Liese said. "Knowing the nutritional environment of a
community may be important in how we help the people living there make
better choices for their health."
Although the Dietary Guidelines for Americans are
intended for all U.S residents, Liese said that people living in rural
areas are at a marked disadvantage in being able to meet these


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Beatport, the popular music distribution platform, has announced they will drop 3,030 unique non-fungible tokens of what they call “Synth Heads.” Synth Heads are living synth characters based on the following models: BØB, Lynn, Pauline, Oscar, Seq-Ee, and Dax 7. View a version of each model in the announcement video below.
These NFT’s are generative which means that an algorithm will produce a random rendition of one of six models. The result will be a completely unique digital figure that the purchaser will own.
Beatport is releasing the Synth Heads via PIXELYNX, the metaverse gaming platform from deadmau5, Richie Hawtin, and various other industry investors. deadmau5 recently dropped a similar NFT series called “head5” which used comparable generative technology to create unique versions of his trademark mau5 helmet.
Synth Heads will be available to purchase on Thursday, January 27, with pricing coming soon. Join the Beatport Discord for more information.


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Neymar Jr. signs Puma deal
Brazilian soccer player Neymar Jr. has signed a deal with sportswear company Puma, as the fashion brand works on competing with competitors Nike and Adidas. With Cristiano Ronaldo signed to Nike and Lionel Messi signed to Adidas, Puma now has a heavyweight soccer star of their own as a brand ambassador. Rumors of Neymar signing with Puma began...
14 Sep 2020
Video: Neymar Jr. x Diesel new fragrance 'Spirit of the Brave'
The new fragrance by Diesel Fragrances, co-created with Neymar Jr. Source: Diesel, YouTube.
20 May 2019
Neymar Jr. x Diesel Fragrances launch Spirit of the Brave
Diesel Fragrances and world renowned soccer player Neymar Jr., accompanied by Buzzman, have launch a new fragrance, Spirit of the Brave. The campaign was launched on May 19 in more than 40 countries. Only The Brave, Diesel’s signature fragrance for men, is celebrating its 10th anniversary. For this important milestone, the brand has reinvented...
19 May 2019


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Update: Tokyo Disney Resort has announced both Parks are tentatively schedule to open at 14:00 on October 13, 2019.
Tokyo Disney Resort has announced that both Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea are closed on October 12, 2019, and scheduled to reopen around noon on October 13, 2019. Typhoon Hagibis is one of the strongest typhoons to hit the Tokyo area since 1958. Tokyo Disney Resort is in the prefecture of Chiba, which is beside Tokyo.
Typhoon Hagibis is said to bring record winds and rainfall on Saturday. JR East has also said local and shinkansen (bullet) trains are suspended from October 12 to the 13th. Also affected is the Rugby World Cup and the 2019 Japanese Grand Prix.
How to Stay Safe
If you’re in Japan during this time, you’ll want to stock up on food (if you haven’t already) and stay indoors. Keep the TV locked on NHK for any important announcements in case of an emergency or evacuation. If you’re at a hotel, ask the front desk staff what to do in case of flooding and evacuation. We have an article with more advice during a typhoon.
I’m Supposed to Visit the Parks
If you have a dated ticket for October 12, 13, or 14, you’re able to change the date of your ticket at the Resort. Tokyo Disney Resort has said they’ll waive the ￥200 fee. If you’re a guest at one the Disney or Official Hotels, speak with Cast Members for the most up-to-date information.
Park Closure Announcement
Here’s a screenshot of the official announcement from Tokyo Disney Resort on the closure due to Typhoon Hagibis.
We’ll keep you Explorers updated as we learn more. Be safe out there!


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Payment24 is a South African based fleet fuel management and mobile payment app. Payment24 is aggressively making inroads across pan-Africa and the United States (US). It has made inroads into the US by signing many blue chip global customers. But according to Nolan Daniel and Shadab Rahil, joint CEO’s of Payment24, achieving international recognition which is the primary aim of many SA based startups is not a walk in the park.
Rahil said that the company’s ambition was to go international from the start. He added that they never considered themselves as startups. To achieve the global status, they decided to launch with a proper business model, big playbook, and road plan. The three factors helped the business to grow. Their primary strategic focus according to Rahil forced the company to target regions where the market-fit was right only. It also targeted where reliable local networks could be put up.
Daniel said that doing business across Africa comes with a lot of challenges. He added that people have to take their time about the projects they want to engage in. According to him, some huge projects across various countries are in a position to kill a company with time. This is because they tend to take a lot of time, therefore, shifting one’s focus away from their company’s strategic growth plans. Expansion of business across pan-Africa is also challenging. This is as far as red tape, and cross-border payments are concerned. Payment24 has gone against all the odds to succeed. The company is now expanding into Mozambique, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and Botswana. Its selection supported the drastic growth of the firm among the 36 participants of global 500 Start-ups Global Seed Accelerator program in San Francisco in 2017.
Daniel says that the event gave the company an opportunity to make inroads in the North American markets. It also helped them to research to confirm that their products fit in the US market. Payment24 product fit for the US groundbreaking fuel management and payment solutions mobile app looks promising. The joint CEOs said that there is a significant market in the US for the product to get into. The two aims to be among the top three players in Africa in the fuel payment sector in the next few years to come.


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Asia Pacific stocks rose on Tuesday after China's trade report turned to be better than analysts expected and as some countries hope to restart their economy by partly raising restrictions targeted at slowing the COVID-19 infection spread.
The Nikkei 225 index was the gain-leader on Tuesday, having surged by 3.22 percent, to 19,657, followed by Singapore index jump by 2.67 percent, to 2,635. The ASX 200 in Australia and the KOSPI index in South Korea were close on the Nikkei’s tail rising by 1.90 percent and 1.58 percent respectively. The Shanghai Composite and the Hang Seng index grew by 1.10 percent, to 2,814 and by 0.82 percent, to 24,500.
Market players were digesting Chinese trade data for March, as trade surplus beat estimates, dropping from $31.5B to $19.9B at annual rate.
Exports from China declined by 6.6 percent at annual rate to reach $185,15B in March, though analysts were awaited a 14 percent decrease after a 17.2 percent tumble in January-February due to heavily disrupted Chinese supply chain and weak demand.
Imports from China eased by 0.9 percent on annual basis to $165,25B in March, failing to meet analysts expectations of a 9.5 percent decline, after a glum data of a 4 percent drop in January-February.
So, imports and exports in China fell less than analysts estimated in March. The Chinese yuan remains firm at 7.0548 at 0632 GMT.
Source: Marketwatch, Tradingeconomics


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Bike manufactures can apply for codes starting October 21. Starting December 1, bike manufactures must print numbers on bikes. Bike shops must record the bike number and "basic information" when bikes are sold, and hand that information over to local government. That's according to a circular jointly released by the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Commerce, the State Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, and the State Administration of Industry and Commerce. That's a lot of government departments that really care about bikes.
There are editorials that wonder if numbering bikes will solve the theft of problem, will just lead to a bike tax and whether if it infringes on personal property rights. There are 470 million bikes in China and 4 million bikes (including 700,000 electric bikes) stolen every year, a loss to the bikers of 2 billion yuan ($267 million). From March to June, of the 393,000 stolen bikes recovered by the police, only about half were returned to owners. The new numbering system should make that process a lot easier. So, for future reference, if you want to buy a bike in China, don't forget your ID.
[Source: China Daily]


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Thought hoarding toilet paper was bizarre? Along with beans, rice and soup, many are now stocking up on puzzles to keep themselves entertained while quarantined during the coronavirus pandemic — and puzzle makers can’t keep up with the demand.
Brian Way of the Puzzle Warehouse in Missouri tells The Washington Post that the mom-and-pop game shop sold about 10 times as many puzzles per day last week than usual, and now there’s even a backlog of orders.
“We’ve never seen something like this,” says the 51-year-old, who has run the St. Louis-based puzzle purveyor with his wife, Susan, for about a decade.
Way says the Puzzle Warehouse sold around 10,000 units per day last week, in what the game boss calls “beyond Christmas volume.”
The brick-and-mortar store has been shuttered indefinitely over COVID-19 concerns, Way says, but the lion’s share of transactions are conducted online and shipped from the company’s warehouse. In fact, the Puzzle Warehouse’s biggest challenge is distributing the backlog of buildable brain-teasers to customers.
However, the uptick in orders doesn’t surprise Way, who says isolationists need other pursuits to keep them occupied now that there are “no sports on TV.”
“Do you really want the TV and radio on that’s nonstop corona all the time?” says Way, whose four children, ages 14 to 19, are now helping with the business since COVID-19 forced their schools to close.
Board game and puzzle distributors aren’t the only unlikely businesses to benefit during the pandemic. Online tutors are seeing a surge in demand due to school closures, while online booze delivery services, car rental firms and local bodegas are also thriving.
California marijuana distributors are also experiencing new highs after being deemed an essential business under the state’s emergency coronavirus order. And bidet sales are booming as hygiene freaks turn to alternative methods of tush-tidying amid the purported toilet paper shortage.


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To coincide with World Paper Free Day, research from Iron Mountain and PwC reveals paper is the top information security threat to two thirds of UK businesses. Strange.
Microsoft Word's auto-capitalisation feature is useful most of the time, but for some documents it can become an annoyance. Here's how to turn it off.
Users of the Microsoft customer relationship management system will be able to perform actions with voice commands, thanks to integration with personal assistant Cortana.
New research by Tyba.com has found that employees value the team morale and creative environment, great social life and shared enthusiasm experienced working for a startup.
It's official. Microsoft has stopped selling retail copies of certain versions of Windows 7 and 8. Further, statistics suggest that users are finally shifting from outdated versions of Windows.
Demand for big data professionals in the UK far outstrips supply, a fact which has caused salaries to rocket. Investment must be made to avoid a major skills gap, says report.
Research has found that DevOps has moved from the minority to the mainstream, offering real benefits to business. The UK, however, has been slow to get on board.
The Gmail drafts folder provides hackers with a sneaky way of sharing malware, enabling them to hack deep into computers and steal user data.
According to a recent report, over 70 per cent of organisations are using the cloud to run mission critical applications - an increase on 2013 figures.
The electric car maker has added to its existing network of charging stations in the UK with a "Supercharger" facility at Edinburgh Airport.
Here's a nifty looking laptop, suitable for everyday computing and entertainment, and in a colour that's bound to stand. PC World are kindly offering a tasty deal on this HP device.
This week, 23-year old enterpreneur Ted Nash tells the story of his startup Tapdaq, a community driven mobile ad exchange for app developers.
MozFest, Mozilla's 1,600-strong hackathon kicks off Friday 24 October and in the build-up, Mark Surman, executive director of the Mozilla Foundatio shared his take on privacy and self-expression.
After years of difficulty and company restructuring, Nokia's quarterly earnings have shown the former mobile giant to be back in profit.
Alastair Stewart, founder and CEO of Etc Venues, is to host the October edition of Startup Grind, offering attendees guidance, advice and a wealth of business knowledge.
A report has highlighted the safety, security and privacy issues concerned with the increased use of drones in the UK over the next 20 years.
Chief marketing officer and "Mighty Eagle" of Rovio Entertainment Ltd., Peter Vesterbacka, joined a panel to discuss the gamification of education at Moscow Open Innovations forum.
Lloyd Price, co-founder of online healthcare marketplace and bookings service Zesty, chatted to us about demystifying the market, using Uber/Hailo analogies and hiring for passion.
In the build-up to the Microsoft Windows 9 launch, here are a few thoughts on why Windows 9 is going to be really rather good. All based on rumours, hopes and dreams of course.
Qualcomm, Facebook, and other tech companies are exploring how smartphones' LTE radio can be used to connect them directly to other devices up to 500 metres.
Amazon's Indian division has done surprisingly well in just over a year's existence. Jeff Bezos has said how investment will continue though to further strengthen the company's presence.
In the build-up to Sir Tim Berners-Lee's keynote at IP EXPO 2014, leading IT experts gathered to slug it out over where the web might be in 2050.
The iPhone 6 Plus bending fiasco has caused widespread anger amongst the proud new owners of the Apple smartphone. Now it's the turn of the HTC One M8, Moto X, and others to take the bendgate test.


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Since today’s most dominant companies often sacrifice short term profits for their business’ longevity, they are not always the most profitable. For example: Amazon brought in $232.9 billion in revenue in 2018, but only reported $10.07 billion in net profit for the entire year – one of the lowest margins of any major tech company.
So where did all of that money go? Using data from SEC Filings and the most recent fiscal year reports, we’ve created these alluvial diagrams that show just how Amazon, Nike, Uber and more use their money:
The Finances of 7 Famous Companies, courtesy of Headway Capital


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Field Reports1 Oct, 2008 By: Thomas Haire, Jacqueline Renfrow Response
> InfoTech will receive a $4.3-million technology upgrade through a Defense Appropriations Bill, supported by U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D – N.D.). The money for the Minot Technology Center of InfoTech will help create a new system that allows Department of Defense personnel to access military databases from anywhere in the world.
> With a new team of executive and senior managers in place and a renewed focus on its core areas of expertise, Livemercial is focused on the development of new technologies that will challenge traditional direct response marketing models and make it easy for marketers to engage the $1 billion online consumer goods marketplace. Its first entry, launched in mid-September, is CORE, a turnkey solution that integrates the Internet, interactive voice response, online media and mobile direct response technologies and delivers them across a multi-channel, self-service platform.
> Don Cowser joins Icon Media Direct as senior media buyer for the direct response media buying team. Cowser was previously the senior vice president of direct sales at Mantra Films/Sands Media.
Khubani Still Excited After 25 Years
The TELEBrands leader believes his company's silver anniversary represents resiliency and consistency in the ever-changing DR-to-retail space.
DR-to-retail marketing giant TELEBrands is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2008, and its leader, President and CEO A.J. Khubani, has lived through the many changes that shaped — and continue to shape — the direct response industry. In just the past year, TELEBrands enjoyed what Khubani calls its biggest success yet with the PedEgg, an egg-shaped callus remover.
The company, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2000, has seen its fortune grow in recent years thanks to other hit products, including the Go Duster and Doggy Steps. During the past quarter-century, Khubani has seen his business grow from a short-form DRTV business to a huge consumer products supplier to such retailers as Wal-Mart and Bed, Bath & Beyond. Recently, Response caught up with Khubani to discuss TELEBrands' quarter-century milestone.
RESPONSE: What's the most memorable moment of TELEBrands' first 25 years?
A.J. KHUBANI: It has to be the first time we got retail distribution on AmberVision sunglasses (in 1987). Going into the store, witnessing consumers pick up the product, look at it and walk out with it — it was very satisfying.
Have the past 25 years essentially unfolded how you envisioned? What have been the biggest surprises?
KHUBANI: You can never plan out how things are going to go in business. However I envisioned it from the very beginning, it's nowhere near what I initially envisioned. In fact, it's far bigger than I ever imagined it would be. Of course, I never contemplated filing bankruptcy. But business has its ups and downs.
The bankruptcy changed the way I look at things personally. I try to enjoy every single day that I am in business and every day that things are going well. You have to take it one day at a time. Many times in life, people are waiting for some event before they're satisfied. "When I solve this problem, then everything will be fine. When I hit this threshold, then I'll be happy.""I don't look at it that way anymore. Every day, I enjoy what I am doing, whether I am satisfied or even if we're having a problem. It's cliché, but I take more time to smell the flowers.


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Toyota intends on building a new electric vehicle plant in Tianjin, China with its local partner FAW Group, Reuters reports.
A document issued by local authorities of the China-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city says the two automakers will invest around 8.5 billion yuan ($1.22 billion) in the site.
The plant will have an annual production capacity of 200,000 vehicles, all of which will be new energy vehicles. In China, new energy vehicles are classified as battery-only, plug-in hybrid, and fuel-cell vehicles.
Read Also: Toyota And BYD Announce Chinese Joint Venture To Develop EVs
Toyota hasn’t commented on the plans. In a statement, it said that China is one of its most important global markets and that it is constantly considering various measures to ensure the nation is able to meet the needs of its growing local business.
Vehicle sales in China dropped by 8.2 per cent last year but sales of Toyota and Lexus models jumped by 9 per cent locally compared to the year prior.
Some outlets claim that Toyota and FAW Group want to complete construction of the site and start producing vehicles before the end of the year.
It remains unclear what vehicles Toyota will produce at the site. Gasgoo claims a new battery electric vehicle jointly developed by Toyota and BYD could be built at the site.


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The three-day international event featuring automotive glass repair and replacement competitions, educational seminars and an exhibition floor, is proud to welcome ZG3 Systems, LLC, which offers a new glass lifting system created for in-shop and mobile use that significantly enhances productivity, installer safety and accuracy.
“ZG3 Systems, LLC, was founded in 2013,” says Doug Rasmussen, vice president. “Owners Rich Brummett and Doug Rasmussen merged their vast expertise in auto glass and ergonomics to create specialized equipment for handling auto glass.”
When asked what made the company decide to sponsor Auto Glass Week, Rasmussen says, “As a new and revolutionary technology that will benefit everyone in the auto glass industry, Auto Glass Week 2015 is the very best way for us to introduce ZG3 Systems to a national audience of decision makers and those influential in the industry.
“Auto Glass Week, in our view, contributes three important functions—to validate and reinforce best practices; to introduce new products/technologies; and to serve as a venue for peer-to-peer direct interaction,” he adds.
Mark your calendars now to visit with ZG3 Systems, LLC, on the exhibition floor, as well as all the Sponsors at this year’s event. Registration for Auto Glass Week 2015 is open and pre-registration discounts end TODAY!
“Our focus will be the introduction of ZG3 System technology to individuals and companies involved in auto glass replacement,” notes Rasmussen. “We will be bringing a mobile system to demonstrate the benefits in safety and productivity through use of our technology. We will also provide videos of the units in operation.”
A representative from ZG3 Mobile System will offer a demonstration in the assisted removal and replacement of an auto windshield during each day of the event.
The annual event, co-sponsored by AGRR™ magazine, the Auto Glass Safety Council™, the Independent Glass Association, the National Glass Association and the National Windshield Repair Association, draws attendees and top players from throughout the industry to the exhibition floor each year. Auto Glass Week will be held at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center and Atlantis Casino Resort Spa in Reno, Nev.
Let the event devoted to the automotive glass industry and making connections that drive profit work for you. Join ZG3 Systems, LLC, and the other companies working for the betterment of our industry. For more information on attending or sponsoring, visit the official event website.


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Continuing on its recent retro sneaker tip, it looks like Jordan Brand is now gearing up to bring back a low-key classic. The Air Jordan 10 “Steel” made its first appearance back in 1994 and — while never making its way to play in the NBA — had its auspicious debut at the Pippen Classic. Harking back to the original design, the shoe features its familiar checkerboard lining with accents of red, and has been updated with smooth and premium tumbled leather in white, with “Light Steel Grey” and black hits throughout.
Scheduled to make its return in the summer of 2018, the Air Jordan 10 “Steel” carries a price tag of $190 USD and is set to be available from selected Jordan Brand retailers.
- Sneaker Bar Detroit
- Image Credit
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Strengthening the European financial industry amid disruptive global challenges
Speech by Yves Mersch, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB, at the European Institute of Financial Regulation (EIFR), Paris, 3 September 2018
Europe’s financial industry still faces a number of challenges. Its continued weak performance, with low price-to-book ratios and meagre profitability, is ample proof of that.
Some of those challenges – such as high levels of legacy assets, the need for deleveraging and the burden of stricter regulation – are a result of the financial crisis. But even before the financial crisis, the industry was facing pressure on various fronts, and those challenges are still there. In particular, fundamental technological change continues to call established business models into question.
Today, I will focus on disruptive challenges that are arising in a particular area of business: digital technology. Such technology is becoming ever more important in banking and is opening the door to competition from non-banks in core areas such as payments. Cascades of complementary innovations have already fundamentally altered the payment landscape, and European banks need to act now if they want to avoid losing out to bigger international players.
The euro area has been very successful in providing a top-tier foundation for innovative payment services. However, this foundation has not yet been fully utilised by European players to provide true state‑of-the-art pan-European services. There is currently a window of opportunity for Europe’s financial industry to make use of this top-tier infrastructure and the changing patterns in retail payments. But in order to seize these opportunities, it needs to avoid the mistakes of the past.
Laying the foundations
The euro was introduced in 1999, with physical banknotes and coins following in 2002. However, that success was not matched by integration in the market for electronic retail payments in euro, with national solutions remaining disparate and lacking interoperability. While the establishment of TARGET, the real-time gross settlement system for the euro, resulted in a fully integrated money market and wholesale payment market, cross-border retail payments in euro remained expensive, slow and inefficient, with no standardised way of making electronic payments across the euro area. For far too long, huge economies of scale remained unexploited.
The ECB played a key role in laying the foundations for such standardised cross-border payments through the establishment of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) – an endeavour that required substantial efforts by all stakeholders. That initiative consisted of two key stages.
First of all, a harmonised legal framework was needed for payment services in the EU. Thus, the Payment Services Directive (PSD) was adopted in 2007 and entered into force in 2009.
Second, it was important to ensure that consumers and businesses in the EU could send payments to each other quickly and easily across borders, with no differences between domestic and non-domestic payments. The SEPA credit transfer and SEPA direct debit schemes replaced all domestic payment schemes in the euro area, using fully interoperable global standards.
Catering for innovation
In the current age of rapid technological progress, it is vital to ensure that innovation delivered by banks and non-banks reaches all European citizens. Innovative bespoke national solutions using national – or, more frequently, non-European – technology could threaten the integration achieved by the various SEPA schemes.
Innovation may start at domestic level, but it should not face barriers preventing pan-European expansion. Thus, national solutions should provide for pan-European reach in their initial design. As these solutions tend to be provided by non-banks or disseminated by local banks on behalf of non-European entities, third-party providers need regulated access to payment accounts. The revised Payment Services Directive (PSD2), which is currently in the process of being implemented, will provide secure and interoperable payment account access and will allow innovative new payment services to be provided in the EU. What we don’t need is integration with non-European countries that runs counter to European standards.
While legislation is indispensable for an integrated market and to promote innovation, it is not the only precondition. Cooperation between stakeholders is also essential in order to ensure smooth and harmonised processes throughout the EU.
The ECB has brought the market together, initially via the SEPA Council and then via the Euro Retail Payments Board (ERPB). The ERPB was instrumental in the development of the SEPA instant credit transfer scheme, which is now live, with over 1,000 providers participating. Those instant payments have been achieved without legislation, with the ECB instead facilitating dialogue and consensus between market actors.
Moreover, that scheme will soon be complemented by the ECB’s new Target Instant Payment Settlement service, which is set to go live this November, providing a real-time, high-end platform for payment service innovation.
The challenge for Europe
Progress towards an integrated market for payments has not been without its problems. Europe still does not have an integrated, standardised card payment network, with the vision of being able to use any card at any payment terminal in Europe having yet to be realised.
Europe’s largest card payment networks are still not interoperable. For example, Germany’s Girocard and France’s Cartes Bancaires account for a substantial number of card payments in the euro area’s two largest economies. However, owing to significant technical differences, a supposed lack of a business case and an absence of political will, these two networks remain separate – as do most other national card schemes. As a consequence, it is more convenient to use non-European cards when travelling across Europe.
Although some standardisation work has been carried out via the European Cards Stakeholders Group, Europe still does not have its own Europe-wide card scheme, so we remain fully reliant on non-European schemes when making cross-border card payments. Although they provide a valued service, those schemes raise certain questions from a governance perspective. European banks have relinquished their influence in this area, possibly because of short-term profit considerations.
Indeed, large non-European companies now play a significant role in the provision of payment services in Europe, while European banks are focused solely on serving their national markets.
Let’s face it: the foundations laid by European institutions have not been leveraged by European providers in order to offer pan‑European services. Instead, those foundations are often exploited by multinationals from outside Europe offering innovative, consumer-friendly solutions. Indeed, European banks seem to have surrendered much of the pan‑European payment business.
PayPal now dominates the market for online payments in Europe, using the pan-European SEPA credit transfer and SEPA direct debit schemes to provide harmonised services. Meanwhile, Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon – often referred to collectively as “GAFA” – are also offering significant payment services with pan-European reach, some of which involve joint ventures with individual banks at national level. At the same time, Chinese giants like Alibaba and Tencent are advancing. While these companies are to be admired for their ability to expand and provide innovative services that consumers want, I would ask why there are no European companies competing in that arena.
There is a risk that our dependence on foreign providers will increase further as regards the development of innovative payment services, since banks are resisting the objectives of PSD2 on this front. They have been defensive when it comes to granting technical access to new and innovative payment service providers, which will limit European fintech companies’ ability to provide competitive solutions. Indeed, I fear that global giants from outside Europe will use their network power to increase their presence further.
In other sectors, European companies have succeeded in achieving global reach. In the car industry, for example, European vehicles set the standard when it comes to quality and reliability. There is no reason why this success cannot be replicated in the area of payment services – or financial services in general.
The way we pay in Europe is changing. Significant numbers of consumers are moving to online payment channels, with retail payments increasingly being carried out via mobile phones. At the same time, virtual currencies have long been a topic of debate – and not only among experts, either.
European citizens demand pan-European services that are safe and efficient. Consequently, there is a need to look carefully at the governance and regulation of payment solutions. Many payment channels are provided by non-European companies. Although those companies comply with our legislation and use our payment infrastructure, they are, for the most part, not domiciled in Europe. This increases our dependence on third countries. In particular, we have to be mindful of the fact that extraterritorial jurisdiction could, in a worst‑case scenario, affect the operation of those companies and disrupt payments between European counterparties. In the current geopolitical environment, such risks are, unfortunately, not as remote as they once were and need to be taken seriously by European policymakers.
We have laid the groundwork by providing safe and efficient market infrastructure, and this should be used as a basis for innovative, user-friendly solutions. The way to protect the integrity of European payment services is not by closing them off to the world, but by making them global players. Building on local or national solutions is anachronistic and will not meet the needs of the market.
If we are to succeed at a global level, the issue of domestic governance needs to be addressed. Our reliance on non-European card schemes for domestic payments in Europe is suboptimal. European card schemes should make interoperability and full pan-European reach their main priorities, enabling any card to be used at any terminal. At the same time, governance arrangements need to cater for European needs, given that cards are the single most important electronic payment instrument in Europe.
However, protectionism should not be used to artificially promote European innovation in payment services. We should remain open to global players, but should focus more on addressing the reasons for the lack of major European providers in the payment market.
It is important that European payment service providers are active at a global level. Rather than establishing national solutions, we should seek to develop global solutions based on European open governance that use European infrastructure.
Europe boasts state-of-the-art payment systems. They should be used by pan-European providers to offer innovative, safe and user-friendly solutions for the benefit of people across Europe and all over the world.


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Oct 15 / 2019
PNC Arena Introduces Electric Vehicle Charging
(RALEIGH, NC) – Gale Force Sports & Entertainment, in association with the Centennial Authority, today announced that electric vehicle (EV) charging is now available at PNC Arena. Six ChargePoint EV charging spots have been installed for guests to charge their vehicles while attending Carolina Hurricanes hockey games, NC State University men’s basketball games and all other events at PNC Arena.
PNC Arena will offer Level 2 electric vehicle charging solutions from ChargePoint, the world’s largest EV charging network. The networked Level 2 chargers provide up to 25 miles of Range Per Hour, and enable drivers to access information about availability and status right from their mobile device. ChargePoint also partners with Wolfspeed, A Cree company, based in North Carolina.
Cree, Inc., which is headquartered locally in Durham, N.C. and is a strategic partner of the Carolina Hurricanes, was instrumental in bringing the ChargePoint charging spots to PNC Arena. As a global leader in silicon carbide (SiC) technology, Cree’s Wolfspeed product portfolio is enabling the world’s transition to electric vehicles, renewable energy and other energy-efficient technologies.
“We are excited that the Centennial Authority provided the ChargePoint chargers to support our EV drivers and the future of electric mobility,” said PNC Arena and Hurricanes President Don Waddell. “These charging spots offer convenience and peace-of-mind for EV guests while attending events.”
The chargers are in the VIP parking lot at PNC Arena. There is a $5 flat fee for each charging session. If space is available, guests may upgrade to VIP parking to access the chargers. EV charging will be operational from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m. each day.
Chargers at PNC Arena are available to the public and drivers are encouraged to download the ChargePoint mobile app to locate available stations, start charging sessions, and get updates on charging status. 24/7 support ensures that drivers can get assistance whenever they need it.
For information on upcoming PNC Arena events, please visit www.PNCArena.com.
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Health officials have warned that roasting and frying starchy foods could increase the risk of cancer. Health experts advise cooking to ‘golden brown’ rather than letting food burn.
Higher cooking temperatures can create chemical reactions among amino acids, creatines and sugars reactions that may produce dangerous compounds that can damage our DNA.
Some of the most notable end products are heterocyclic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, advanced glycation end products and acrylamide.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued a public health warning over the risks of acrylamide, a chemical compound that forms in some foods when they are cooked at temperatures above 120 0C.
Acrylamide forms due to a chemical reaction between certain sugars and an amino acid (asparagine) in the food.
Acrylamide is found in high levels in a range of foods including breakfast cereals (not porridge), chips, potato products (such as waffles or children’s potato shapes), biscuits, crackers, crispbread and crisps.
It is also found in coffee, cooked pizza bases, black olives and cereal-based baby foods.
Root vegetables including potatoes, sweet potatoes, beetroot, turnip, swede and parsnips can all carry high levels of the compound once they have been roasted or fried until darker brown or crispy. As well as high temperatures, long cooking times can increase levels of acrylamide even further.
Foods such as skinny fries and crisps appear to have the highest levels.
The FSA also says potatoes should not be kept in the fridge because sugar levels in the potatoes rise at low temperatures, potentially increasing the amount of acrylamide produced during cooking.
Research in animals has shown that the chemical is toxic to DNA and causes cancer, so scientists assume the same is true in people, although as yet there is no conclusive evidence.
The possible effects of acrylamide exposure include an increased lifetime risk of cancer and effects on the nervous and reproductive systems.
But whether or not acrylamide causes these effects in humans depends upon the level of exposure.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) recommends carefully following cooking instructions and avoiding browning.


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The U.S. FDA has approved Gilead’s new HIV drug, Biktarvy, a once-daily, triple-combination tablet.
Biktarvy combines new integrase inhibitor bictegravir with Descovy, an older medication that combines emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide.
According to Gilead, Biktarvy does not require testing for HLA-B*5701 (a gene that predisposes patients to having an allergic reaction from HIV med, abacavir), has no food intake requirements, and has no baseline viral load or CD4 count restrictions. The drug’s label includes a boxed warning that use could worsen hepatitis B infection in certain patients.
Rival ViiV Healthcare, a joint venture majority-owned by GSK, with Pfizer and Shionogi Limited as shareholders, immediately filed a lawsuit alleging that Gilead was infringing patents related to the ViiV’s triple-drug HIV treatment, Triumeq. Specifically, Viiv says Biktarvy infringes on its patent covering dolutegravir and other compounds that include dolutegravir’s unique chemical scaffold.
The global market for HIV drugs could reach as high as $40 billion a year by 2021, according to Quintiles IMS Institute.
Read the Gilead press release